Multiple head bag closing machine



J y 5, 5 H. v. KINDSETH 2,712,292

MULTIPLE HEAD BAG CLOSING MACHINE Filed July 50, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l F/GJ INVENTOR. HAROL p M/(INDJE TH A T TORNE Yd July 5, 1955 H. v. KINDSETH 2,712,292

MULTIPLE HEAD BAG CLOSING MACHINE Filed July 50, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATToR/VE ra United States Patent 0 MULTIPLE HEAD BAG CLOSING MACHINE Harold V. Kindseth, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Bemis Bro. Bag Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Missouri Application July 30, 1951, Serial No. 239,251 10 Claims. c1. 112-11 This invention relates generally to power driven bag closing machines. More particularly, it relates to improvements in power driven bag top closing machines of the type which are adapted for use in sewing, stitching, sealing or otherwise, the upper ends of filled bags, and is a continuation-in-part of my applications, Serial No. 183,229, filed September 5, 1950, and No. 187,456, filed September 29, 1950.

In the bag filling and closing industry, many difierent sizes and types of bags are provided which are made from many different materials. This has resulted in the necessity of having a number of individual closing machines each having a different head and apparatus so as to close the particular type of bag for which it is designed. T bus the bags may be comprised of cloth, paper, plastic, and

so on, and a closing machine particularly adapted for closing a particular type of material is usually provided whether the closure be by sewing, heat sealing, tape heat sealing, thermoplastic closing or otherwise. This closing machine is usually comprised of a single head mounted upon a single stand. The stand may be movable but has usually been affixed to the floor because of its weight and bulk and consequently it is required that a conveyor or some other means of delivering the bags from the filling or packing station into closing position on the machine be used. Thus, when a particular filling or packing machine is used to deliver a charge of a particular material into a certain type of bag it is advantageous to have a closing machine designed to close the top of that type of bag positioned immediately adjacent the conveyor passing below said packing machine. However, it often becomes necessary to use bags of a different material to hold the same particular material which is to be bagged in the same run. Thus, a given load or batch of material might be partially bagged or packed in paper bags and partially packed in cloth bags. This would require the use of a closing machine having a textile sewing machine head for adequately closing the top of the cloth bag and a closing machine having a separate paper sewing machine head for adequately closing the top of a paper bag. This would require some means of delivering a batch of textile bags from the filling and packing machine to a textile sewing head and then if a batch of paper bags were to be used some means of delivering the second batch of paper bags not to the textile head but to the paper closing head. This would necessitate the services of a man or a machine to transport the bags. This is inefiicient and cumbersome in an industry which places a premium on the highly efficient closing and packing of bags with a resultant lowering of man and machine costs. The present invention embodies in one unit all of the necessary mechanisms for etliciently and expeditiously closing filled bags regardless of whether the material is to be introduced into paper bags, textile bags, etc., regardless of height of bag or shape of bag. It provides a machine which is efficient and practical in operation and on which the various mechanisms of the machine are so arranged that a single operator may 11 12392 i atented July 5, i955 "ice readily manipulate the apparatus with a resultant reduction in the closing operation time and labor.

Another difficulty encountered in the use of the presently employed bag top closing machines is that sewing closure machines are adapted to sew the tops of the filled bags with the needle operating in a horizontal plane. This causes a ditliculty in that the sewing machine apparatus will obstruct the view of the operator in looking at the stitches as they are being formed in the bag material. it is thus advantageous to have a sewing machine head which may not only be operated with the needle sewing in a horizontal direction but which may also be operated with the needie sewing in an inclined plane so that the formation of the stitches may be observed by the operator.

Still another difficulty with the present day sewing machines is the fact that the thread is exposed and becomes encrusted with the material with which the bag is filled as there always is a certain amount of sifting of finely comminuted material during the filling thereof. It is therefore extremely desirable to provide an enclosure means for the sewing machine thread.

A further difiiculty encountered with the presently used closure machines is that the solenoid operated clutches for engaging the constantly running closure machine motor with the closing head tend to burn out frequently. It is therefore desirable to provide a new and unique linkage designed to prevent the frequent burning out of the solenoids.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a closing machine for use in coniunction withithe stitching or sewing of the tops of filled bags which is provided with a plurality of closure heads selectable and adjustable at' the discretion of the operator.

It is a.further object of this invention to provide a closure machine having a plurality of closure heads which may be swung individually into position at the discretion of the operator and which is provided with a unique clamping mechanism to maintain the selected head in any adjusted position for closing.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a closure machine stand provided with a closing machine head which may be swung downwardly into a horizontal position by the operator, having safety means to prevent passage of said closure machine head beyond said horizontal position in a downward direction.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a closure machine for closing the tops of filled bags having a plurality of closure heads and including a means whereby the closure head may be positioned at an angle to the top of the bag to be closed for complete viewing of the closure operation by the operator.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a closure machine having a multiplicity of closing heads on a single frame so as to be lowered and raised in unison.

It is another object of this invention to provide a closing machine having a multiplicity of closure heads, and means situated on each one of said closure heads whereby insertion of a bag therein causes the initiation of the closing mechanism for the closing of said bag. It is another object of this invention to provide a closing machine having a plurality of closing machine heads operable individually at the discretion of the operator in conjunction with a conveyor mechanism for conveying the bags thereto, said conveyor mechanism having means for varying the speed thereof to suit the sewing speed of the individual closing machine head selected.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a closing machine for use in closing the tops. of filled bags having a plurality of closing heads connected to the same electric circuit, the operation of each of said closing heads being initiated by the insertion of a bag therein.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a closing machine mechanism comprising a plurality of individual closing heads, a unitary stand, a conveyor for delivering the bags to be closed to said closing heads, clutch means for varying the speed of said conveyor means in relation to the particular closing head to be used and tension means for maintaining tension on said conveyor means.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a closing machine stand having means for enclosing the thread supply for a sewing head for the prevention of encrustation or the fouling thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide a closing machine having a new and unique clutch linkage adapted for actuation by the solenoid wherein the strain upon the solenoid is relieved to prevent the burning out orrapid deterioration thereof.

Still other objects of this invention reside in the positioning of the closing heads with reference to the single stand and in the attached wrenches for adjusting the clamping mechanisms.

Still other and further objects of this invention are those inherent and apparent in the apparatus as described, pictured and claimed.

The invention will be described particularly with reference to the drawings in which corresponding numerals refer to the same parts and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the instant invention partly in section, showing a plurality of closing machine heads and a conveyor for delivering bags thereto, said conveyor being illustrated in fragmentary elevation;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan sectional view in the direction of arrows 22 of Figure 1 showing the conveyor and the driving mechanism therefor;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1 illustrating the textile closing machine head;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 1 illustrating the paper closing machine head and showing, in dotted lines, the non-sewing or out-of-the-way position thereof;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 4 and illustrates the closing head clamping and adjusting mechanism;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 77 of Figure 1 showing an enlarged left side elevation of the textile closing head, with its support in section to show the details of the clamping mechanism;

Figure 8 is a side elevational view taken in the direction of arrows 8-8 of Figure 1 showing the textile closing head for closing a bag in the inclined position;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 99 of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a wiring diagram, illustrating schematically certain of the mechanical and electrical apparatus.

This invention will be explained particularly with reference to a bag closure machine containing a textile bag sewing machine head and a paper bag sewing machine head. However, it is to be understood that closure heads of any other type may be substituted for the textile sewing machine head and the paper sewing machine head, such as heads for heat sealing the tops of bags together, tape sealing the tops of bags together, pasting the tops of bags together, etc. without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to Figure 1, there is illustrated a bag top closing machine stand generally designated 10, a pair of front upright members 11 and 14 and a pair of rear upright members 12 and 13. These upright members, as are all of the frame members of this invention, are composed of steel angle upright mernbers11-14 welded together. A pair of center cross frame members and 16 serve to join members 12 and 13 and 11 and 14 respectively. A top in Figure 1, are also similar to members 15 and 16 and perform the same cross-bracing function except that they are stationed at a position adjacent the conveyor as shown best in Figure 1. A pair of upright frame members extends between each pair of members 16 and 19 as may also be seen best with reference to Figure 1.

The upright frame members 20 are used to provide additional support to frame 10. The frame 10 is generally constructed of angle iron and strap iron members suitably connected together by welding or any other desired means. A pair of rearwardly extending center braces 21 and 22 is disposed in the same plane as braces 15 and 16 and serves to connect brace 11 with brace 12 and brace 14 with brace 13 as may best be seen with refernce to Figures 2 and 4. A second pair of rearwardly extending braces which corresponds to braces 21 and 22 are braces 23 and 24. However, brace 23 serves to connect the top of members 11 and 12 and brace 24 serves to connect the top of members 14 and 13. Additional braces similar to 2122 and 2324 may be provided for stability and strength if desired.

Upon each side of the frame 10, journalled for rotation at the center of braces 21 and 22, are a pair of adjustment screws 25. These adjustment screws are identical and each has its lower end mounted in a journal 26 upon frame member 21 or 22 and its upper end supported in a journal 27 upon the frame member 23 or 24 respectively. The adjustment screws are provided with a reduced portion 28 which extends through journal 26 and has a bevel gear 30 pinned or otherwise attached thereto. Bevel gear 30 is adapted to mesh with a corresponding bevel gear 31. Thus, there is provided one bevel gear 30 and one bevel gear 31 for each one of the adjustment screws 25.

Two bevel gears 31 are located upon shaft 32 as may best be seen with reference to Figure 1. Shaft 32 is provided with an operating handle 33 on the left side of the machine with reference to Figure 1. Shaft 32 is jour nailed for rotation in a pair of journals 34 disposed upon members 21 and 22. A collar 35 of operating handle 33 affixed to the left end of shaft 32 as seen in Figure 1 prevents movement to the right thereof. The bevel gear 31 positioned in cooperation therewith engages the face of journal 34 and thus left and right removement of shaft 32 is prevented. When the operating handle 33, which is in the form of a hand crank, is turned it will rotate the screws 25 simultaneously and in the same amount. The screws 25 each penetrate tubular cross member 36 which serves as the mounting for the sewing machine heads P and T. A screw thread connection between the screws 25 and the member 36 is provided as illustrated in Figure 7 wherein there is illustrated a central web 38 which has welded to it at the top and bottom surface thereof a pair of ordinary machine nuts 39. Thus, there is provided a pair of nuts 39 for each screw 25. These pairs of nuts 39 (one pair at each end of the member 36), serve as threaded apertures through which the screws 25-25 pass. Accordingly, when the hand crank 33 is rotated, the tubular cross frame member 36 will be raised or lowered evenly by any amount within the range of thescrews 25 and the sewing machine heads Pand T (or any other types of closure heads) will also be raised or lowered since they are carried on member 36.

Welded, or otherwise firmly secured to each end of tube 36 is an end plate 40. End plate 40, may best be seen with reference to Figure 1 and Figures 4-5 and 8, is rectangular and is provided with guide rollers 41 journalled for rotation thereof. Four rollers 41 are provided for each end plate and two are journalled for rotation on one of the front supporting members 11 or .14 of the machine and two are located for rotation upon one of the rear supporting members 12' or 13 of the supporting frame. This may best be seen with reference to Figure 8. Thus, in effect, each end plate 40 has rollers 41 mounted upon it in such a; way that it forms a vertically movable panel having wheels 41 engageable upon tracts '13 and 14 or 11 and 12. The pair of end plates 40-40 thus serve to guide and position the tubular member 36 with reference to the upright members 11-14 and to provide a means for relieving torque which would otherwise be transmitted to tube 36 by the action of the heads P and T when clamped thereto as hereinafter described. End plates 40-44) serve as a guide and torque reducing means which will allow ease of adjustment of screws 25, which accordingly only have to support the weight of the assembly.

Afiixed to each of the end plates 4t)40 and extending therebetween, as best shown in Figures 4-6, is a rod 42, which serves to support an assembly composed of blocks 43-43 and a bar 44, the assembly being so made that it can be slid along rod 42. The bar 44 is used to limit the downward travel of the head P or T when swung into horizontal sewing position. Bar 44 is attached to blocks 43 by cap screws 45 or otherwise suitably secured thereto. It may be noted with reference to Figure 6 that bar 44 has a length which is greater than the distance between the outside edges of head support bars 46 two of which are provided for each sewing head. Thus, rod 42 extends between the end plates and is provided with two sets of blocks 43 and two head stop bars 44, one for each of heads P and T, although only one set of blocks 43 and only one head stop bar 44 has been described with reference to textile head T.

The sewing machine T is especially adapted for the sewing of textile or cotton bags, whereas the sewing ma chine P is especially adapted for the sewing of paper bags. Other types of closure heads may be substituted which are particularly adapted for sewing, sealing or otherwise closing other types of bags without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. In cooperation with the sewing machine P there is provided a feed roll 47 which is mounted on a spindle 43. Spindle 48 is provided with a pair of collars 49 and 5t) afiixed thereto for the maintaining of roll 47 in position the con. Disposed between collar 5'0 and the outer face of the feed roll 47 is a coil spring 51 which serves to retain the feed roll snugly in position on the spindle and to provide a slight tension so that the paper web W will not be unrolled therefrom inadvertently. The interior end of the spindle 48 is bent to provide a right angle and is journall-ed in a frictional journal 52 which is carried upon the outside flange of member 11 as may best be seen with reference to Figures l and 5. Thus, the journal 52 will serve to maintain the roll 47 in the position shown in Figure 1, if desired, or it may be swung from the full line position shown in Figure 5 to an upward out-of-the-way position as the jaw per head P is swung from the full line position of Figure 5 to the dotted line position of Figure 5 or any intermediate position. From the feed roll 47 a paper web W is fed downwardly into the paper head P the web being guided by the guide member 53, the Web then being folded over the end of the bag by the machine and stitched onto the paper bag during the final sewing operation as is well known.

Each of the sewing heads P and T is mounted for swinging movement from an operating position such as shown for head P in Figure 5 to a vertical position as shown by the dotted line position thereof. When the sewing machine head is swung upwardly around shaft 36 to the vertical position as indicated by the dotted lines of Figure 5, the head either P or T, is above the sewing machine stand 1%) and is entirely out of the way. This out-of-the-way position is shown for the paper sewing machine head P in the dotted lines of Figure 5. The upward swinging movement to raise such sewing machine head from the operating to the ont-of-the-way position is shown by the arrow S. It is to be understood, of course,

6 that the operation of the textile head T is similar thereto and it may be swung from an operating to an out -of-theway position, also. It is noted at this time that'either of the sewing heads P or T may be positioned in the sewing position shown in Figures 45 or in an inoperative position shown for head P by the dotted lines of Figure 5, or at an intermediate position thereto. Thus, it is sometimes desirable to position the head of from (ifabove the horizontal position shown in Figures 4-5 for sewing the bags at an angle instead of horizontally, as best illustrated in Figure 8. This angular position (or other angular positions) are sometimes advantageous in that they allow the operator to inspect the stitchingas it is formed. An angular position is also advantageous in the sewing of paper bags in that the inherent stiffness of the paper tends to resist the bending thereof and to force the paper in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 8 and thus into the sewing head for better sewing.

These sewing heads P and T are of conventional construction and therefore need not be described in detail.

Each comprises an electrically operated stitching and feeding mechanism driven from an independent motor 54 or 55 each machine having a magnetic clutch, as schematically illustrated in Figure 7. r I

Each of the sewing machine heads P and T is provided with an identical clamping mechanism for clamping the same to the tubular shaft 36, and hence only one of the clamping mechanisms, that shown with reference to the textile head assembly in Figure 7 will be discussed in detaii. Each of the heads P and T is supported by a pair of supporting rods 46 secured in a cylindrical seat 56 therein by means of a set screw 57. Of course, it is to be understood that other supporting or securingmeans may be used. These rods both extend leftwardly with reference to the Figure 7 and forwardly with reference to Figure 8 and terminate in a gripping. sleeve 58. This sleeve 58 has an aperture 58A of cylindrical cross-section therein which is of such a diameter as tocooperate snugly yet freely with the outside diameter of tube 36 as may be seen with reference to Figure- 7. The gripping sleeve 58 is provided with a transverse rectangular recess 59 which is formed so as to receive a cooperating pair of gripping blocks 64) and 61 therein. Block 61 is the configuration best shown in Figure 7 and is provided with a threaded aperture 62 which is adapted for receiving the threaded end of the adjustment bolt 63 therein. Block 61 is ,pro-' vided with a concave face 71 adapted to snugly engage the exterior surface of the tubular member 36 as may be seen with reference to the drawings, especially Figure 7. Block is provided with a non-threaded aperture 64 which receives the shank of adjustment bolt 63 and a Well 65. It is also provided with a concave face 66 also adapted to engage the exterior surface of the tubular member 36. A cap 37 is positioned over well and is provided with an aperture for the receipt of the shank of adjustment bolt 63. Abutting cap 37 is a spring 6-7 positioned upon bolt 63. Sleeve member 68 serves as a spacer between. nut 6? of bolt 63 and the cap 37 which serves as a spring retaining cover for spring 70. The compfession spring is inserted in the well 65 and engages the bottom thereof and the underside of cap 37. The sleeve 68 is of a diameter slightly smaller than that of any surface of nut 69 A collar 29 is riveted or otherwise secured to the underside of a wrench 17 and engages the underside of nut 69 to prevent the removal of the wrench head 9 from the nut 69. Compression spring 67 serves to maintain collar 29 in abutment with the underside of the projections of the nut 69.

Thus, there is provided a pair of gripping blocks 60 and 61 which may be tightened by the action of bolt 63: the head 69 of bolt 63 bearing on spacer 68 which in'turn bears on retaining cover 37 and hence on block 60. Consequently, there is provided a squeezing action on the tubular member 36. The provision of the cover 37 and the spring 70 allows either: (1) a resilient gripping of 7 tubular member 36, or (2) a tight frictional gripping thereof as the bolt 63 is tightened to the point where cover 37 engages the upper surface of block 60, which is the action shown in Figure 7. When the bolt 63 is loosened from the position shown in Figure 7 the coil spring will push cover 37 to the right and gripping blocks 60 will hence resiliently engage tubular member 36. The wrench 17 is always maintained in position upon the head of cap screw 69 by virtue of the collar 29. When his desired to loosen the cap screw 63, the wrench is pushed inward against the action spring 67 (i. e., to the left as shown in Figure 7) thus releasing it from engagement with the head 69. The wrench may then be turned freely and re-engaged at any position by allowing the spring 67 again to force wrench 17 into re-engagement with the head 69 of cap screw 63. In this way the screw 63 may be turned any desired amount for tightening or loosening.

With particular reference to Figure 6, it may be noted that clamping blocks 60 and 61, and wrench 17 and clamping screw 63 are positioned in the center of gripping sleeve 58 which is provided with a cut-out portion 72 at "the top thereof.

Each of the heads P and T is provided with an automatic actuator 6 diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 10 which may be of any conventional type and is not further described since it forms no part of this invention per se. This automatic actuator operates when a bag head is inserted therebetween mechanically to close a pair of electrical contacts to initiate operation of the sewing machine needle as will be further explained with reference to Figure 8. Actuator 6 may be of the type shown in Patent Number 2,539,627, issued January 30, 1951, or may be of any other suitable type.

Each of the sewing machine heads P and T is provided head P is provided with two thread cones providing threads 176 and 177 which are fed thereto, as may be seen with reference to Figure 1. The two thread cones are identical with the exception that one usually comprises a four-ply thread and the other is a five-ply thread as is conventionally used for the sewing of paper. The five-ply thread leads to the looper, the extra ply being provided for the looper in order to take the sewing machine action and the strain.

Otherwise, each of the cones is identical and is placed on a spindle 178. Thus, with reference to Figure 1. there is shown the front sewing cone 175 on spindle 173 and immediately in the rear thereof but with a slight space in-between there is provided a second thread cone 175 on a second spindle 178. A thread guide 179 is positioned between the two sewing ends and has a forward 5 and rearward projection with reference to Figure 1 over which the threads are passed on their way to the sewing machine head. Thus, the thread guide 1'79 as seen in Figure l (only the forward end of which is seen) is of T-shaped configuration with the upper bar of the T forming the guides for the threads 17 6 and 177. A similar pair of thread cones 180 on a similar pair of spindles 181 and a similar thread guide 182 is provided for the feeding of thread to the textile head T. The thread cones for the textile head are exactly similar to the thread cones for the paper head except that the threads are three and four-ply instead of four and five-ply, the heavier ply thread again leading to the needle side of the sewing head as was explained with reference to the paper head P. "Also provided in conjunction with the paper head P is a filler cord spindle 183 upon which is fastened the filler cord cone 184. It may be seen with reference to Figure 1 that the filler cord 185 leads from cone 184 through an aperture 186 and to the paper head P in the conventional manner.

The filler cord is of the kind usually used for the sewing of paper bags in the bag filling industry and may comprise cotton roving or a paper filler cord, the purpose of the cord being to fill the needle holes in the paper so as to prevent the escape of finely cornminuted materials.

A plurality of doors, not illustrated, may be provided so as to make a dust-free enclosure for cones 175, 180 and 184.

Referring now particularly to Figures 7 and 9, each of the sewing machines P and T is provided with a motor 54 or 55 as explained heretofore. stant operation once the proper head has been selected as will be hereinafter explained and the sewing machine is operatively engaged or disengaged by means of a V- belt pulley being connected or disconnected to the sewing machine motor by means of a magnetic clutch. Hence, with reference to Figure 7, the operation of the clutch will be explained with reference to the textile sewing head T but it is to be understood that the operation thereof is the same for the paper sewing head P.

In Figure 7 there is shown the driven pulley 187 of a conventional V-belt receiving type and attached to the sewing machine head for the operation thereof. A V- belt 188 is operatively connected thereto and has its other end seated in a standard V-belt clutch pulley 189. The pulley 189 is the V-belt pulley of a standard V-belt clutch generally designated 1%. Clutch 190 is of the type previously known and may be of the Ball-Lek" type which is generally available in the industry. To disengage this clutch the flanges 190 and 191 spread apart and allow the V-belt 188 to settle down onto a flat-edged disc or ring which is journalled on the sewing machine motor shaft independently of the flanges 190 and 191. When the flanges 190-491 are spread apart, the belt 183 being loaded by the sewing head settling upon the edge of said ring, holds the ring for rotationeven though the motor 55 continues to run. In this manner, transmission of power is precluded. To engage the clutch, the flanges are brought together whereupon squeeze pressure is placed on the V-belt and the V-belt climbs up the walls of the flanges to running position. I

In the operation of the present invention, there is provided a solenoid 192 having its armature 193 connected to a chain link 194. The armature 193 is threaded and is connected to chain link 194 by means of an adjusting lug 195 threaded on the end of the armature 193 to which the chain link 194 is pinned. The chain link 1194 is also connected to the link bar 196 which is provided with an upturned end 197 having a set screw 198 threaded therethrough. Screw 198 is adapted to seat upon boss 199 of a depending angular yoke 200 which is firmly attached to the sewing machine T. Thus by adjustment of the screw 189 the link 196 may be limited in its downward travel, thus determining the limit disengaged position of the clutch. Link bar 196 is provided with an enlarged portion 201 at the center thereof which is apertured at 202 as may best be seen with reference to Figure 9.

A forked throw-out yoke 203 is apertured at 204 where the forked end connects with an off-set stem 211 to receive a pivot pin 205, as shown best in Figure 9. Pin 205 extends through apertures 206 in fork arms of the support yoke 200, apertures 204 in throw-out yoke 203 and an aperture 207 in link bar 196, as may best be seen with reference to Figure 9. Aperture 207 is provided at the upturn in bar 196 as may be seen in Figure 7. A

The motor is in cona 198-191 is disengaged as the sleeve 210 is moved in an upward position (in Figure 7) and engaged as it is moved in a downward position. Clutch throw-out yoke 283, as may best be seen with reference to Figure 7, is provided with an off-set stem 211 which terminates in a boss at 212. Off-set stern 211 lies beneath link 1% and the upper surface of boss 212 engages the under surface of link 196. is threaded through the aperture 282 of link 196 and is passed through a slightly oversized aperture 214 in offset stem 211, directly therebelow. A hexagonal nut 216 is positioned on the bottom end of stud 213. A coil spring 217 is positioned around stud 213 and has one end engaging the upper surface of nut 216 and the other end engaging the lower surface of boss 212. A second coil spring 219 has one end engaging a surface 213 of the sewing machine and the other end engaging the top surface of the link 196 and encircling the head of stud 216. Thus, the nut 216 serves to maintain in position the coil spring 217 upon the link 196. A protuberance is provided on the surface 218 for the positioning of the upper end of the coil spring 219 for maintaining the same in the position shown in Figure 7. Spring 1219 is relatively stronger than spring 217 and thus serves continually to exert pressure to force the link 1% and off-set stem 211 downwardly with reference to Figure 7, until the adjustment screw 198 is engaged upon boss 199 and thus limits the downward travel of link 196 and the upward travel of clutch 196. This places the clutch in completely disengaged position. When the solenoid 192 is energized, it quickly draws armature 193 and link 196 to the position shown in Figure 7. However, there is a short delay in the closing flanges 19d and 191 for after they squeeze the belt 188, some time elapses until it climbs to its running position. Also, a new belt will resist deformation to a greater extent than an old belt, and were it not for the action of the spring 217, the solenoid would not completely seat, even in the running condition. The provision of spring connected link 196 allows the armature 193 of the solenoid 192 immediately to bottom or reach its uppermost position as shown in Figure 7. Thus spring 219 will be compressed immediately and link 196 through stud 213 will cause the decompression of spring 219 and the compression of the spring 217. Thus, the compression of spring 219 relieves any downward force upon the otfset stem 211 and the decompression of spring 217 causes an upward force thereon. This forces the off-set stem 211 in an upward or counter-clockwise direction around the pivot 205 (with reference to Figure 7) and thus to cause the throw-out yoke 283 to force flanges 190 and 191 to squeeze belt 188. There is a short delay in the closing of the flanges while the belt climbs to its running position therebetween. However, the provision of independent linkage coupled with the spring actuation allows the solenoid to bottom immediately compressing the spring 219 and decompressing spring 217 whereby the link 196 and stem 211 engage as the belt climbs between flanges 190' and 191 to running position. This allows quieter operation of the magnetic clutch, prevents the overheating and consequent failure of the solenoid and permits the use of a smaller solenoid.

The frame 10 is provided with a supporting plate 73 which is positioned substantially adjacent to the floor as shown in Figure 3. An apron 74 may be dropped from plate 73 to the floor if desired, or it may be omitted. Plate 73 supports a conveyor motor generally designated 75 having a drive pulley 76 and supported on a pair of supports 77 and 78. Supports 77 and 78 are anchored to the plate 73 by bolts 80 and 81 which are positioned in apertures therein so as to allow lateral adjustment of the positioning of the motor as is seen best in Figure 2. Extending between blocks 77 and 78 are a pair of rails 79 upon which a carriage 82 is mounted for transverse movement. A threaded rod 83 also extends between blocks 77 and 78 at the center thereof. Rod 83 is pro- A stud 213 -1 vide'd with a cap head 84 and a wing nut 85. The carriage 82 is provided with a threaded center block 86 which is engaged by the threaded rod 83. Thus, when it is desired to adjust the position of the motor 75 in a sidewise direction, wing nut 85 is loosened and cap 84 is turned and causes the carriage 82 to travel by means of engagement of the block 86 with the threads of the rod 83. After the carriage is placed in the desired position, the wing nut 85 is then tightened and will maintain the carriage in the desired position. I

A suitable conveyor generally designated 8 is stationed in fixed relation to plate 73 and motor 75, and has one end disposed beneath the sewing machine heads P and T and is adapted to successively receive and convey bags from a distant point after each bag has received a charge of material. The conveyor as is best seen with reference to Figures 2 and 3 comprises a plurality of the belts 87 in fixed spaced relation. The conveyor belts are supported at the bag-receiving end (loading station, not shown) by a plurality of idler pulleys secured to an idler shaft having suitable bearings provided in the supporting frame of the conveyor. The conveyor construction is shown in my application, Ser. No. 183,229, filed September 5, 1950, to which reference is here made. The receiving (or loading) end of the conveyor is exactly similar to the delivery or driving end shown in Figures 23 except that an idler shaft and idler pulleys are provided instead of driving elements.

The conveyor supporting frame is shown comprising side rails 88 and 89 and each composed of a suitable steel framing. The belts are supported at their terminal (delivery) end shown in Figures 2 and 3 by a cross drive shaft 99 having belt drive pulleys 91 keyed orotherwise fixed in spaced relation on the shaft, so as to be driven thereby. Cross shaft is provided with a suitable bearing 93 and 94 for the support thereof. As mentioned, the belts are similarly supported at the other end by spaced idler pulleys, and the upper strand of each belt runs in a V-shaped channel as at 97, to support each belt. A plurality of braces 95 extends between the side rail members 88 and 89. A plurality of transversely disposed rollers 96 are mounted on the rails 89 and 88 and serve to support the lower run of the conveyor belts 87, only one of which members 96 is illustrated in Figure 2, the

others being identical therewith. A series of guide channels 97 as shown in Figure 1 is provided to support the upper run of the conveyor, and an individual channel being provided for each belt and the channels being sup ported from rails 88 and 89 in any desired manner.

The means for driving the conveyor as is best illustrated with reference to Figures 2-3 comprises the motor 75 having drive pulley 76 driving a V-belt drive 98 which is connected to a V-belt speed change pulley arrangement generally designated 99. The speed changer 99 provides dual pulleys for receiving the belt 98 and a similar belt 100 which operatively connects the drive pulley 99 to the high speed shaft of any conventional speed reducer generally designated by numeral 181. Speed reducer 161 is aflixed to plate 73 by four bolts 102 as is illustrated best with reference to Figure 2. The

low speed shaft 103 of the speed reducer is shown having a chain drive 104 connecting it to the driven shaft 90 of the conveyor through a sprocket 7. The speed changer 99 is operable to vary the speed of the conveyor by manipulation of the control lever 106 to the left or right as shown at arrow C in Figures 2 and 3. By manipulating control rod 106, the speed reducer 99 is moved pivotally on its mountings in the direction of arrow F or arrow S thus providing faster or slower speed input to gear box 101 and hence faster or slower operation of conveyor 8. In this manner the conveyor can be made to run (and hence carry bags) at exactly the rate of travel of the sewing heads, and the bags being served are hence neither crowded nor dragged through the sewing head's.

A chain tightening device generally designated 107 and illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, comprises chain tightener bracket 108 securely aifixed to plate 73 by bolts 109 as shown in Figure 2. The bracket is provided with bearing block 110 in which is journalled the chain tension arm 111. The upper end thereof is provided with a roller 112 journalled onto roller shaft 113. Roller 112 is adapted to engage the upper surface of the chain 104 which extends from the low speed shaft 103 of the speed reducer 101 to the drive shaft of the conveyor 8. Arm 111 is provided in the center thereof with lug 116 journalled thereto and provided with an aperture to receive the shaft of adjusting screw 117. Adjusting screw 117, as is shown best with reference to Figure 2, is provided with a collar 118, pinned or otherwise secured thereto which serves to position it with reference to frame member 11. Thus, when it is desired to tighten the chain 104 the adjusting screw 117 is rotated to force arm 111 in a clockwise direction with reference to Figure 3 thus forcing roller 112 downwardly upon chain 104 as may best be seen with reference to Figure 3. desired to decrease the tension exerted upon chain 104, the reverse procedure is followed.

Referring now to the wiring diagram shown in Figure 10, there is illustrated the electrical control system for the present invention. Power for the electric system is supplied thereto by the alternating current supply lines L1 and L2 which lead from any suitable source, preferably of volts potential. The circuit is shown in Figure 10 in its de-energized or non-conducting position. When it is desired to energize the circuit, the manually operated start switch 129 which is shown in Figure 10 with its contacts normally open, is closed. The operation of switch 129 provides a circuit extending from junction 120 on line L1 through the contacts 121A of a manually operated stop switch 121, which is shown in its normally closed or operative position, thence over line 122 to a junction 123. The circuit then extends from junction 123 through line 128 to the contacts 129A of the normally open start switch 129 which now being in closed or operated position provides a circuit to junction 127. Hence, with the stop switch 121 in its normally closed position, if the start switch 129 is operated to close the contacts 129A, the circuit extends through junction 127 to the magnetic relay generally designated 125 which has a coil and two sets of normally open contacts 125A and 1253. The establishment of the circuit to junction 127 by the operation of the start switch 129 operates relay 125 causing it to close contacts 125A. and 125B. The energization of relay 125 establishes a holding circuit rom junction 123 through line 124 contacts 125A, to junction 127, thence through line 131 to junction 132 and accordingly maintains relay 125 in its energized and operated condition. Thus start switch 129 which initially connected junction 127 through coil 130 in line 131 to junction L2 may now be released and the circuit will be maintained from junction 120 on L1 to junction 132 on L2. When the stop switch 121 is pushed, it breaks the circuit from junction 120 to junction 123, and accordingly relay 125 will drop out and establish its normally open position and thus interrupt the holding circuit previously described.

Operation of the relay 125 also causes the closure of contacts 1255 and thus establishes a circuit between junction 120 via line 133 and closed contacts 125B to junction 134'. A circuit now extends from junction 134 through line 135 and coil 136 to junction 137 of line L2. The establishment of a circuit through coil 136 which is the coil for a normally open relay 139 of the conveyor motor 75 causes the operation of the relay 139 and connects the 3-phase conveyor motor with the power lines and consequently the motor 75 is started in operation. it may be noted with reference to Figure 10 that the connections of conveyor motor 75 are illustrated diagrammatically and that the bracket 75A indicates the power supply lines for a 3-phase conveyor motor and the When it is 1?. bracket 75B indicates the connection lines extending from the relay 139 to the terminals on the motor itself. The motor 75 now runs continuously.

A circuit now is conditioned to extend from junction 140 via line 170 to the textile selector switch generally designated 148. Switch 143 is shown in its normally open position. This switch controls any flow of current between the junction 140 and the textile head motor 55 and the textile sewing switch 152. When the switch 148 is closed a circuit extends from junction 140 via line 170 through switch 148 to junction 149 and then via line 1519 through the textile head motor 55 to junction 144 of line L2 which begins to operate. Motor 55 now operates until switch 148 or switch 121 is opened. A circuit is now also conditioned by the operation of switch 143 from junction 149 via line 151 to contacts 152A of the normally open relay 152 thence through coil 153 to junction of line L2. Relay 152 is manually connected to the textile sewing head T by any means well known in the art, whereby the positioning of the bag B for sewing in the textile head will cause the closure of the switch 152. This is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 10 where the actuator 6 is shown connected to switch 152 so as to cause closure of switch 152 as a bag B is inserted in the textile sewing head. Closure of switch 152 closes contacts 152A and energizes coil 153 which controls the operation of solenoid 192 for the operation of clutch 190 for the textile head which initiates the sewing of any bag engaged by the textile head, the clutch operating to connect the sewing mechanism of the head with the constantly running motor 55. At this time and in a similar manner, a circuit is also conditioned from junction 140 through line 141 to junction 142 and thence via line 154 to the paper selector switch 155 which is also shown in its normally open position in Figure 10. Closure of selector 155 establishes a circuit therethrough through junction 156, line 157 and motor 54 to junction I 146 on line L2. Hence closure of the paper selector switch will initiate operation of paper motor 54. The operation of the paper sewing machine selector switch 155 also conditions for establishment a circuit extending through junction 156 via line 159 to contacts 160A of switch 160 similar to switch 152 through line 161 and coil 162 to junction 163 on line L2. As explained previously with reference to the textile sewing head, the insertion of the bag B into the paper sewing machine head P will cause the closure of the switch 160 whereby the coil 162 will be energized to operate a magnetic clutch on the paper sewing machine head to initiate the sewing of any bag positioned therein.

It is therefore seen that operation of switches 148 and 155 will permit the selection of either head while the other remains quiet.

In the operation of this multiple head closing machine unit the feed end of the conveyor (not shown) is positioned for receiving a load of bags from a filling or packing machine. The upper or operative strands of the conveyor belt then travels in the direction of the arrow 7 4 shown in Figure 1. The bag in upright condition will thus be carried from the filling or packing machine via the spaced belts 87 to the closing machine heads. By rotary manipulation of the crank arm 33 the heads P or T may be raised or lowered so that their vertical position corresponds to the height of the top of the bag which is being sewed. One or the other of the two heads of the sewing machines P and T is now swung from a position illustrated by the dotted line position for the paper head P in Figure 5 to the solid line position shown in Figures 4 and 5 or to the angle position shown in Figure 8. Wrench 7 is then used to clamp the gripping blocks 60 and 61 firmly against the tubular member 36 and thus maintain the heads in sewing position thereon. As mentioned previously, if it is desired to close the tops of the bags at an angle for better inspection while closing the same, the heads P and T may be positioned at an angle 13 from to above the horizontal for the sewing in this position, clamping blocks 6% and 61 being tightened sufficiently to maintain the head in this sewing position. The operating handle 166 is then pushed to the right or left (as shown in Figure 3) to adjust the speed at which the conveyor 8 is run. The operation of the operator handle 106 acts to vary the speed of the high speed power input shaft of the conventional speed reducer 101 with reference to the speed of the shaft 76 of the motor in the manner well known for this conventional clutch 3- type pulley 99. The speed of the conveyor 8 is thus adjusted so as to provide a linear speed of travel of the bags which is the same as the linear speed of bag closure accomplished by the closing machines P or T, the speed of closing varying with the type and material of the bag being sewed.

The start switch 129 is then pressed causing the operation of the conveyor motor 75. Next, if the textile head T is to be used, switch 148 is closed thus causing the operation of motor 55 or if the paper head P is to be used switch is closed thus causing the operation of motor 54. A bag B is inserted into the actuator 6 of the respective head P or T and the operation of the actuator will close the contacts either 152A or A and cause the engagement of a magnetic coil either 153 or 162. Thus the closing of the switch for the head desired to be used will provide that when a bag is inserted in the actuator thereof the respective magnetic clutch will be energized and will cause the sewing of said bag.

When it is desired to change from paper to textile bags or vice versa in the middle, the appropriate switches either 148 or 155 are operated, and the sewing head is swung down and adjusted for proper height and angle. Depending upon the sewing characteristics of paper or textile bags, which ever is used, it may also be desirable to adjust the speed of the conveyor 8 so as to provide an appropriate correlation of sewing and bag conveying speeds.

As many apparently widely differing embodiments of this invention may be had without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the specific embodiment disclosed therein.

What I claim is:

1. In a bag closing mechanism, a conveyor for moving filled bags in an upright position, a framework alongside the conveyor having a horizontal shaft thereon, extending parallel to the direction of travel of the conveyor, a plurality of closing machines for different bag materials pivotally mounted on said shaft for swinging movement downwardly from a retracted out-of-the-way position to a position over the conveyor at an elevation for conveniently closing the top of a filled bag for closing the same, each of said closing machines being mounted so as to stay in a retracted position or in a closing position, and means for raising and lowering said horizontal shaft for raising and lowering the closing positions of said closing machines to accommodate them to different sizes of bags, and individual clamping means for clamping each of said closing machines in a retracted out-ofthe-way position, in a position over the conveyor and at an elevation for conveniently closing the top of the filled bag or at any angular position therebetween.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that said clamping means comprises a pair of clamping elements, one of said clamping elements adapted for rigid engagement with said shaft and the other of said clamping elements adapted for rigid or resilient engagement at the discretion of the operator.

3. In a bag closing mechanism, a conveyor for moving filled bags in an upright position, a framework along the conveyor having a horizontal shaft thereon extending parallel to the direction of travel of the conveyor, a plurality of closing machines for different bag materials pivotally mounted on said shaft for swinging movement downwardly from a retracted out-of-the-way position to a position over the conveyor at an elevation for conveniently closing the top of a filled bag for closing the same, each of said closing machines being mounted so as to stay in a retracted position or in a closing position, means for raising and lowering said horizontal shaft for raising and lowering the closing positions of said closing machines to accommodate them to different sizes of bags, and supporting means positioned on said framework for limiting the downwardly swinging travel of said closing machines whereby they are positioned in a horizontal position.

4. In a bag closing mechanism, a conveyor for moving filled bags in an upright position, a framework alongside the conveyor having a horizontal shaft thereonextending parallel to the direction of travel of said conveyor, a plurality of closing machines for diflerent bag materials pivotally mounted on said shaft for swinging movement downwardly from a retracted out-of-the-way position to a position over the conveyor at an elevation for conveniently closing the top of a filled bag for closing the same, each of said closing machinesbeing mounted so as to stay in a retracted position or a closing position and manual means for raising and lowering said horizontal shaft for raising and lowering the closing positions of said sewing machines to accommodate them to different sizes of bags, and supporting means positioned on said framework for limiting the downwardly swinging travel of said closing machines whereby they are positioned in a horizontal position.

5. In a bag closing mechanism, a conveyor for moving filled bags in an upright position, a framework along side the conveyor having a horizontal shaft thereon extending parallel to the direction of travel of said conveyor, a pluralityof closing machines for different bag materials pivotally mounted on said shaft for swinging movement downwardly from a retracted out-of-the-way position to a position over the conveyor at an elevation for conveniently closing the top of a filled bag for closing the same, each of said closing machines being mounted so as to stay in a retracted position or a closing position and manual means for raising and lowering said horizontal shaft for raising and lowering the closing positions of said sewing machines to accommodate them to ditferent sizes of bags, and individual clamping means for clamping each of said closing machines in any desired pivotal position.

6. In a bag closing apparatus, a bag closing machine comprising a vertical frame, a horizontal shaft of circular sectlon mounted on said frame, said shaft being mounted for translatory movement up and down but restrained from rotating relative to the frame, at least one mounting arm assembly mounted on said shaft and including an arm and journal mounting the arm for rotation on said shaft with said arm projecting substantially radially from the horizontal shaft, a closing machine on the arm at a distance from said shaft, and clamping means on the arm for gripping the arm immovabiy on the horizontal shaft thereby to hold the closing machine in any desired radial position.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that a plurality of mounting arm assemblies are carried by the horizontal shaft.

8. In a bag closing apparatus, a bag closing machine comprising a vertical frame, a pair of threaded shafts positioned parallel to each other and upright, and each journalled for rotation on the vertical frame, a horizontal shaft of circular cross-section having threaded support portions thereon for receiving the threaded shafts, means for rotating the threaded shafts in unison for raising and lowering the horizontal shaft, at least one mounting arm assembly mounted on said shaft and including an arm and journal mounting the arm for rotation on said shaft with said arm projecting substantially radially from the horizontal shaft, a closing machine on the arm at a distance from said shaft, and clamping means on the arm for gripping the arm immovably on the horizontal shaft thereby to hold the closing machine in any desired radial position.

9. In a bag closing mechanism a verticalframe, a horizontal shaft of circular cross-section, means mounting said shaft on said vertical shaft for movement up and down While held horizontal and restrained from rotation relative to said frame, at least one mounting arm assembly mounted on said shaft and including an arm and journal mounting the arm for rotation on said shaft With said arm projecting substantially radially from the horizontal shaft, a closing machine on the arm at a distance from said shaft, clamping means on the arm for gripping the arm immovably on the horizontal shaft thereby to hold the closing machine in any desired radial position, and support means mounted on the frame so as to be carried substantially parallel to said horizontal shaft, said support means being positioned so as to be engaged by a portion of said mounting arm assembly when said assembly is swung radially to a limiting downward position.

10. In a bag closing mechanism, a conveyor for moving filled bags in an upright position, a framework along said conveyor having a supporting member, a plurality of closing machines pivotally mounted on said supporting memher for swinging movement downwardly from a retracted out-of-the-way position to a position over the conveyor at an elevation for conveniently closing the top of a filled bag for closing the same, each of said closing machines being mounted so as to stay in a retracted position or in a closing position, individual retaining means operable to retain each of said closing machines in said retracted outof-the-way position and operable to retain each of said closing machines in a position over the conveyor and at an elevation for conveniently closing the top of the filled bag, and said retaining means comprising a pair of clamping elements, one of said clamping elements adapted for rigid engagement with said supporting member and the other of said clamping elements adapted for resilient engagement therewith.

Re erences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 794,875 Moore July 18, 1905 1,884,025 Lutz Oct. 25, 1932 2,299,423 Neuman Oct. 20, 1942 2,423,080 Belcher et al. July 1, 1947 2,539,627 Kindseth et al Ian. 30, 1951 

